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Dudley woman was terrified by lovesick ex-lover

A LOVESICK man who terrified his former Dudley partner in breach of a non-molestation order has been spared a prison sentence.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Alka Brigue, prosecuting, said Craig Hyde had been in an eight-year relationship with the woman but it was "on off" and violent and she was frightened of him.

She said 36-year-old Hyde had been forbidden from getting in touch with the woman but he first went to her Laurel Road home after making a string of telephone calls and as he left he said, "I love you."

The father-of-one was arrested but he then went to the woman's place of work where he stared at her.

Jas Mann, for Hyde, said his client had been involved in a "difficult" relationship with the woman and when they began to have problems he turned to drink.

Mr Mann added: "Things then simply got worse and he continued to spiral out of control. He found it very difficult to come to terms with the end of the relationship."

He stressed there had been no direct physical harm from Hyde towards his ex-partner but it was accepted there was "plainly psychological" damage.

Hyde, of Brook Street, Smethwick, admitted two charges of breaching the non-molestation order and also that the offences constituted the breach of a ten week jail term that had been suspended for 18 months.

Judge Michael Elsom placed him on supervision for 18 months and ruled the suspended sentence order should be extended to stretch to two years.

He further made Hyde the subject of a restraining order forbidding him from having any contact with the woman or going near her home and place of work.

He told Hyde: "You are not to get in touch with her. You are in grave danger of throwing your life away. You have chosen to react to your problems by going to the bottle."